29th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 20-23, 2004
Abstracts

Defenders of Wildlife and Desert Tortoise Conservation

Cynthia Wilkerson California Species Associate, Defenders of Wildlife

This talk will focus on the history and current status of Defenders of Wildlife's work on desert tortoise conservation. Richard Spotts worked actively for the tortoise from 1979 to 1993. This work included major grassroots organizing and Congressional lobbying campaigns for conservation lands in the California desert, support of the California state Endangered Species Act listing, the Federal Endangered Species act listing, the designation of critical habitat, and the development of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan. Following a nearly decade long hiatus, Defenders has again dedicated staff time and funding towards work in the California desert, with desert tortoise conservation as a major focus. Defenders current desert tortoise work focuses on pushing for implementation of the recovery plan in various planning efforts in California. State and national advocacy, working directly with the USFWS, public education and media efforts are the main strategies employed. This work will continue into the future with increased public scrutiny on the plight of desert tortoise conservation in California.